How To Cook Bacon

Do you crave the smell of bacon cooking in the morning? Bacon is a traditional breakfast food, and there’s simply no substitute for fresh-cooked bacon. Thankfully, it is a relatively easy breakfast food to prepare. It should be done on the stove-top, although if needed, it is also possible to cook bacon in the microwave or oven. Here’s how to cook bacon:

Ingredients and supplies:

Frying pan/skillet, large enough for several strips of bacon

Bacon

Oil

Heat-proof spatula

Napkins or paper towels

Instructions:

Make sure the bacon is ready. If the bacon has been frozen, be sure that it is fully defrosted before trying to cook it. If you try to cook partially defrosted bacon, some parts will become crispy while other parts are still raw. Removing the package of bacon from the refrigerator 20 or 30 minutes before cooking can make the slices easier to separate from each other.

Prepare the pan. Bacon is cooked in hot oil on the stove-top. Add just a little oil to the pan, and slowly heat it on the burner. Be aware that the oil may start spitting or popping. Always wear long sleeves and long pants when working with hot oil to avoid burns.

Add the bacon to the pan. Be especially careful when first adding the bacon to the pan; this can cause the oil to splatter. The fat from the bacon itself may also start spitting. Add a couple of bacon strips at a time in one layer on the bottom of the pan; do not overlap them.

Cook the bacon. Turn the bacon at least once or twice to make sure that both sides get cooked evenly. Use the spatula, not your fingers, to flip the bacon. Watch it carefully; bacon can go from perfectly done to burnt in just a second or two. It can take some practice to learn how to tell when the bacon is done. You may like it softer or crispier; with practice, you’ll learn how to get the correct timing. If the bacon turns out too chewy, you have not cooked it long enough. If too crispy, it was cooked for too long.

Remove the finished bacon from the heat. As each strip finishes cooking, remove it from the spatula and place on a large plate covered in napkins or paper towels to drain the excess oil. Turn the burner off, and allow the pan to cool on the stove-top before washing it. Washing a hot pan can damage it.

Bacon is not just for breakfast. It can be served with eggs, potatoes, sandwiches, or other dishes at any time of the day. Bacon is also incorporated into many dishes, especially those with chicken.